Orlando Pirates will have a big decision to make about international striker Jean-Marc Makusu Mundele in planning for next season and beyond.
The Buccaneers have an option to sign the Democratic Republic of the Congo forward on a permanent deal once the club is pleased with his contribution and progress as he is on course to prove his worth after a long injury lay-off from where he comes from.
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Currently, the 28-year-old is on loan at the Soweto giants from AS Vita Club of Kinshasa, though he has appeared to have found the going tough in breaking into coach Josef Zinnbauer’s matchday squad despite his reputation as a top striker.
So far in the 2020/21 DStv Premiership campaign, the forward has made two substitute appearances though he has been showing signs of improvement with his performances and understanding his teammates and their style of play.
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Mundele also featured in the CAF Confederation Cup match against Angolan outfit Sagrada Esperança in Luanda in December.
However, Zinnbauer hasn’t been convinced yet to hand him a start to prove himself.
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Despite the absence of Zakhele Lepasa due to injury, Zinnbauer has stuck to using Terrence Dzvukamanja as a false number nine, with no place in the starting line-up for Mundele or even last season’s top goal-scorer Gabadinho Mhango, while Tshegofatso Mabasa has been disrupted by an in injury in his fight for a place in the team.
Meanwhile, the last time Pirates had a player on loan was in 2017 with Togolese forward Dove Wome who had come from SuperSport United, and while he had an impressive start at Bucs after scoring two goals from the first three matches that he played, the ex-Mamelodi Sundowns star struggled for game time at Bucs and was subsequently not retained on a permanent deal.
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